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ArtHouse Jersey Greve de Lecq Barracks
St Mary JE3 3AA
Deputy Morel Morier House St Helier
JE1 1DD
Dear Deputy Morel ,
Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel Government Plan Review: Culture, Arts and Heritage' (CSP3-5-02)
Thank you for inviting ArtHouse Jersey to provide a written submission to the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel's Government Plan Review. I am content for this to be uploaded to the Scrutiny site.
At the outset I think it is important to clarify that I am not a spokesperson for the arts sector. Having said that, while my comments should be taken as being in relation to ArtHouse Jersey only, it is fair to say that these observations are informed by manifold conversations with others in the sector.
I would start by observing that the cultural sector, and particularly the arts sector, has historically been under-resourced. While lip service has been paid to the importance of art and culture, little was done for many years and we have been fire-fighting simply to keep our heads above water. In my view many, many opportunities have been missed as a result, and islanders have not had the benefit of the world-class arts and culture they deserve.
Given this context, the States Assembly's decision led by Deputy Montford Tadier , to ensure that 1% of the Government budget is dedicated to Jersey's arts and culture from 2021 onwards is a long overdue and extremely positive development. It is both necessary and urgent.
The monies awarded by Government to ArtHouse Jersey for 2019 were transformational, enabling a huge uplift in the contribution our organisation has been able to make to the local community this year as well as our capacity to earn more income from other sources. We have been assured that we will be receiving
the full amount requested for 2020, but as is clear from the Government Plan's financial breakdown for Culture, Arts and Heritage' (CSP3-5-02), 2020 is something of a pinch point, with much greater levels of funding coming on stream from 2021 onwards. This uplift in funding is essential if Government is to achieve what we understand to be one of the key pillars of their economic framework: world class
arts and culture.
Islanders expect that their hard-earned taxes contributed to the public purse are going to be well spent. Value for money and offering a return on investment (in terms of a social return, as well as financial returns), must at all times be guiding principles when funding decisions are made in the arts as is the case in every other sector.
At present, EDTSC, led by Senator Lyndon Farnham and Group Director Dan Houseago, are doing sterling work in ensuring the arts and cultural sector is stabilised. But there seems to be a growing recognition that we are now in desperate need of a new cultural strategy to replace the current one which was adopted by the States Assembly in 2005.
There must be a plan, a road map, to guide investment, enabling decision-makers to make funding decisions guided by set objectives, thereby ensuring that public money is well-spent and contributing to the achievement of stated aims.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Dingle
Director, ArtHouse Jersey